Chapter 1: Haunted House
Deep within a dark and narrow alleyway…
A dilapidated sign creaked and sputtered, its flickering colored lights barely revealing the words “Jin Yu Liang Yuan Real Estate Agency.”
The doorbell rang, and a young man entered.
A real estate agent looked up, then listlessly lowered their head, seemingly uninterested in this unremarkable young man.
Fortunately, another agent, more enthusiastic, stood up from their desk and greeted him.
“Hey there, looking for a place? To rent or…?”
Though the agent was friendly, they didn’t genuinely believe this unassuming young man could afford a property in a major city. After all, he was wearing worn-out sneakers, not flip-flops.
“I want to rent,” the young man nodded.
The previously indifferent agent, surprised, looked up and studied the young man again. Despite his dusty, slightly disheveled appearance, his voice was pleasant.
But after another glance at his ordinary attire, the other agent, a devotee of the “looks matter” philosophy, returned to their phone, ignoring the customer.
Undeterred, the enthusiastic agent continued to warmly greet the unassuming customer.
“So, you’re looking to rent. Any preferences? Location, amenities…?”
“Cheap,” the young man replied succinctly, while the enthusiastic agent was still chattering away.
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
The looks-matter agent: “…”
So blunt, both thought in unison.
“Cheap, huh? What’s your budget… How about this one?”
The enthusiastic agent muttered to themselves, typing away on their computer. After finishing, they swiveled the screen around to show the young man the listing.
The young man glanced at the price and said, “Do you have anything cheaper?”
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
The looks-matter agent: “…”
That price was already quite low. Yet, the young man seemed dissatisfied.
“There’s another one. Take the customer to see it,” the looks-matter agent said with a sly smile, enjoying the show.
“Where’s a cheaper one?” The enthusiastic agent asked, confused.
The looks-matter agent: “…”
“The one that’s been vacant for a long time.”
The looks-matter agent said, eyebrows raised.
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the enthusiastic agent let out a loud yelp.
“But that’s a haunted house!”
The looks-matter agent: “…”
The looks-matter agent pulled the enthusiastic agent aside, and they whispered for a moment.
“In our business, we have to be upfront about haunted houses! We can’t be dishonest!” The enthusiastic agent frowned, unsatisfied after their whispered conversation.
The looks-matter agent looked at them as if they were an idiot and slumped back to their seat, dejected.
“It’s fine, a haunted house is fine. As long as the rent is cheap, I’m okay with it,” the young man said calmly.
“You really don’t mind?” the enthusiastic agent hesitantly confirmed.
“As long as it’s cheap,” the young man nodded.
“A fool and his money are soon parted,” the young man added.
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
The looks-matter agent: “…”
This guy’s not your average Joe, the two agents thought in unison.
“Okay, I’ll take the client to see the house. You watch the shop!” The enthusiastic agent greeted the looks-matter agent and led the young man on their “supernatural journey.”
“Actually, the current owner inherited it. He doesn’t know much about its past. It’s changed hands several times,”
On the way, the enthusiastic agent acted as a narrator, vividly recounting the history of the supposedly haunted house.
The renter: “…”
He wasn’t really interested, he thought. The agent’s honesty was appreciated, but there was no need for such a detailed account. The renter observed the carbon-based lifeform before him, slightly baffled by their enthusiasm.
“Supposedly, a girl died while taking a bath. They didn’t find her quickly enough… you know,” the enthusiastic agent continued, recounting local gossip.
The renter: “…”
“But none of our clients have actually seen anything. Sometimes, especially at night, you can hear faint water sounds…” The enthusiastic agent shivered, seemingly believing their own story.
The renter: “…”
“Thanks for sharing?” the renter replied after a pause.
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
The agent felt they’d talked too much, a little embarrassed.
Luckily, they arrived at their destination.
“Here it is, in this building,” the enthusiastic agent pointed to an old apartment building that looked at least twenty years old.
“The exterior isn’t great, the building management is average, but the location is good. It’s close to the bus stop and subway, and there’s a market nearby, and street food stalls at night.”
The enthusiastic agent enthusiastically introduced the building as they led the young man inside.
The building looked rundown from the outside. But inside the hallway, the renter realized the exterior was deceiving.
All thanks to the contrast? The renter thought.
“It’s an old building, no elevator, but it’s not that tall. Still, it’s a climb,” the enthusiastic agent said, breathless from climbing the stairs.
The renter, however, was quite fit, easily reaching the fourth floor.
“You’re in good shape,” the enthusiastic agent complimented.
“Yeah, I’m a construction worker,” the renter replied proudly.
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
The agent caught their breath, then opened the door and let the renter inside.
“It’s simple, basic decor. You’ll probably need to add some furniture.”
The renter looked around. A one-bedroom apartment, but small. The kitchen and bathroom were cramped. It could comfortably fit one or two people, but would be tight for a family of three.
“Okay, I’ll take it,” the renter nodded.
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
“Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” the agent asked, conflicted.
“No problem. Let’s sign the contract.”
“Fine.” The enthusiastic agent returned to the office and tried to dissuade him several times on the way.
But the renter was determined.
Back at the office, the agent completed the paperwork and presented the contract. The renter seemed experienced, quickly reviewed it, and signed his name.
The enthusiastic agent took the contract and read it.
“Wang Ming?”
The agent asked curiously, “Do you have a younger brother named Zhi Tu?”
Wang Ming: “…”
“No,” Wang Ming shook his head.
“That name is so cool!” the agent corrected themselves.
“Does your family have a throne to inherit?”
Wang Ming: “…”
“No,” Wang Ming said. “When I was born, the fortune teller said I was missing the element of ‘fate,’ so I was named Wang Ming (Wang meaning King, Ming meaning Fate).”
The enthusiastic agent: “…”
“Oh, and by the way, my name is Zhang Qian!” the agent said.
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